Ракеш Шарма: 95% семейных бизнесов терпят крах из-за отсутствия преемственности

The atmosphere shifted into silence as Rakesh Sharma, a chartered accountant with over 29 years of experience mentoring more than 2,000 family businesses, took the stage. Known for his clarity and energy, Sharma addressed the disconnect between founders focused on monetary gains and expansion, and the next generation seeking purpose. He laid out the three pillars of survival: creating wealth, growing wealth, and protecting wealth. “People are preparing the assets for the family. And they forget to prepare the family for the assets,” he said, noting that 95% of family businesses struggle to achieve a lasting legacy. Sharma illustrated the risks with cautionary cases: a INR 1,60,000‑crore enterprise torn apart by brother‑versus‑brother disputes due to the absence of a structured will; a INR 30,000‑crore legacy mired in multi‑party litigation for lack of succession planning; and assets left frozen after the pandemic when a patriarch refused to draft a will. He urged leaders to act while healthy, detailing practical steps: drafting registered wills with valid witnesses, using digital legacy features to secure data access, establishing family councils and charters with h‑o‑t communication (Honest, Open, Transparent), and implementing asset protection through trusts and insurance. Positive examples were cited as proof that clear boundaries prevent ruinous competition. Pointing out that only 30% of family businesses make it to the second generation and just one in ten have a written plan, Sharma concluded with a call to action. “Businesses don’t die because machines stop; they fail when family relationships break down,” he said, urging families to prepare not just assets but themselves for continuity.